Host caveolin-1 facilitates Zika virus infection by promoting viral RNA replication

Zika virus (ZIKV) has gained notoriety in recent years because there are no targeted therapies or vaccines available so far. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) in host cells plays crucial functions in the invasion of many viruses. However, its specific involvement in ZIKV infection has remained unclear. Here, we reveal that depleting Cav-1 leads to a substantial reduction in ZIKV RNA levels, protein expression and viral particle production, indicating that ZIKV exploits Cav-1 for its infection. By dissecting each stage of the viral life cycle, we unveil that, unlike its invasion role in many other viruses, Cav-1 depletion selectively impairs ZIKV replication, resulting in altered replication dynamics and reduced strand-specific RNA levels, but does not affect viral entry, maturation and release. These results reveal an unforeseen function of Cav-1 in facilitating ZIKV replication, which provides new insights into the intricate interaction between Cav-1 and ZIKV and underscores Cav-1 as a potential candidate for anti-ZIKV approaches.